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On March 4th, Lincoln gave his Second Inaugural Address in front of 50,000 people. One of them was nationally known stage actor John Wilkes Booth and several other Confederate sympathizers. Booth claimed he had a splendid chance to kill him where he stood, but did not yet do anything.
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Confederate general Robert E. Lee surrenders at the Appomattox Courthouse and the Civil War ends.
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In the late morning, john Wilkes Booth overheard someone say that Lincoln would be attending the evening performance at Ford's Theater, which gives him the perfect opportunity to kill him. Later that evening Booth shoots Lincoln and kills him. He jumps off the stage and breaks his leg while shouting, “Sic semper tyrannis! (Ever thus to tyrants!) The South is avenged.”
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Booth plots to kidnap Lincoln and hold him ransom for Confederate Army prisoners, along with a few others who are willing to help. This plan is not carried out.
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A funeral service is held for Lincoln at the White House. Thousands of Americans line the streets to watch the procession.
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Five days after Lincoln’s death the government puts out a $100,000 reward to whoever bring Booth back. When booth saw the newspaper criminalizing him he was shocked because he had been expecting to be revered as a great liberator.
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Booth and Herald finally get to Virginia. Three Confederate soldiers help them cross the Rappahannock River, and the fugitives find shelter in a barn owned by Richard Garrett.In Maryland, authorities arrest Samuel Mudd, the doctor who set Booth’s broken leg
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Acting on tips, Union troops pursue the fugitives to the Garrett farm.
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Soldiers surround the Garrett barn in the early morning hours. Herold surrenders, but Booth refuses and troops light the barn on fire. Booth is shot in the neck, and he dies at sunrise.
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Eight defendants stand trial for President Lincoln's murder. Four will be found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging. The remaining four will serve prison sentences at remote Fort Jefferson.
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Mary Surratt, Lewis Powell, David Herold and George Atzerodt are hanged at the Old Arsenal Prison in Washington, D.C.
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September 19, 1867: O'Laughlen Dies of yellow fever
February 7, 1875: Spangler Dies of poor health
January 10, 1883: Mudd Dies of pneumonia
September 21, 1906: Arnold Dies of tuberculosis.
